Short Fiction Watch: E.J. Swift and THE DJINN FALLS IN LOVE…


Today, we want to draw your attention to E.J. Swift‘s latest fiction, “THE JINN HUNTERS APPRENTICE”, which is included in the critically-acclaimed anthology THE DJINN FALLS IN LOVE AND OTHER STORIES. Published by Solaris Books, here’s the book’s synopsis…

Imagine a world filled with fierce, fiery beings, hiding in our shadows, in our dreams, under our skins. Eavesdropping and exploring; savaging our bodies, saving our souls. They are monsters, saviours, victims, childhood friends.

Some have called them genies: these are the Djinn. And they are everywhere. On street corners, behind the wheel of a taxi, in the chorus, between the pages of books. Every language has a word for them. Every culture knows their traditions. Every religion, every history has them hiding in their dark places. There is no part of the world that does not know them. 

They are the Djinn. They are among us.

E.J. Swift is the author of the critically-acclaimed Osiris Trilogy: OSIRIS, CATAVEIRO and TAMARUQ. The series is published in the UK by Del Rey, and is available in the US as eBooks via the JABberwocky eBook Program.

‘Marvelously well done. A glittering first novel: a kind of flooded Gormenghast treated with the alienated polish of DeLillo’s Cosmopolis. The result is a gripping novel, beautiful, politically engaged and wholly accomplished. Swift is a ridiculously talented writer… the fact that it’s her first novel is belied by how accomplished and well-written it is.’ Adam Roberts on OSIRIS

‘Swift’s first novel, with its brilliant near-future vision of an ecologically and socially devastated world and characters who resonate with life and passion, marks her as an author to watch.’ Library Journal on OSIRIS

‘The soulful latest instalment in The Osiris Project and a superior sequel… new lead characters, a fresh story and some real action… CATAVEIRO has a soulful, lonely quality as Taeo and Ramona embark on their solitary missions, haunted by memories of the past and visions of what lies ahead… Their imperfections keep them grounded and likeable, preventing EJ Swift from slipping into predictable and clichéd characterisation… as dystopian fiction goes it is an intriguing world to get lost in.’ SciFiNow

‘[Fans] will jump for joy at the sheer beauty of this finale… TAMARUQ really is a revelation… you will be rewarded when you reach your destination.’ SciFiNow

‘E. J. Swift is an awesome author… stunning…’ Tor.com

‘A series I find myself sad to have finished… but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed visiting the world that Swift has created. I’ve fallen in love with her characters and found myself turning page after page to see what happens to them. It was all depicted so vividly that I found it to be a really immersive series… a brilliant setting with wonderful characters…’ SF Crowsnest on TAMARUQ

Short Fiction Watch: Lavie Tidhar in DANGEROUS GAMES


Various-DangerousGames(Tidhar)-BlogIn this instalment of Short Fiction Watch, we wanted to draw your attention to DANGEROUS GAMES, an anthology published by Solaris Books, edited by Jonathan Oliver, which includes a story by Zeno’s very own award-winning author Lavie Tidhar.

Lavie’s story is succinctly-entitled DIE. Here’s the anthology’s synopsis…

In a world ruled by chance, one rash decision could bring down the house, one roll of the dice could bring untold wealth, or the end of everything.

The players have gathered around the table, each to tell their story – often dark, always compelling. Within you will find tales of the players and the played, lives governed by games deadly, weird, or downright bizarre.

Bringing together tales of the weird and the macabre, Dangerous Games is a diverse collection of voices, featuring incredible new fiction by Chuck Wendig, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Lavie Tidhar, Benjanun Sriduangkaew, Paul Kearney, Libby McGugan, Yoon Ha Lee, Gary Northfield, Melanie Tem, Hillary Monahan, Tade Thompson, Rebecca Levene, Ivo Stourton, Gary McMahon, Robert Shearman, Nik Vincent, Helen Marshall, and Pat Cadigan.

DANGEROUS GAMES is due to be published on December 4th, 2014.

Lavie is the author of The Bookman Histories (Angry Robot), OSAMA (Solaris), THE VIOLENT CENTURY and A MAN LIES DREAMING (Hodder), and a clutch of critically-acclaimed novellas and short stories.

Short Fiction Watch: Justina Robson


Various-FearsomeMagics-BlogJustina Robson has a new, great short story in FEARSOME MAGICS, the latest anthology from Solaris Books! The story is called ON SKYBOLT MOUNTAIN, and the book is published on October 7th.

Here’s the collection’s synopsis…

A cabinet of magic! A cavalcade of wonder! A collection of stories both strange and wondrous, of tales filled with wild adventure and strange imaginings. Fearsome Magics, the second New Solaris Book of Fantasy, is all these things and more. It is, we think, the best book you will read all year.

Award-winning editor Jonathan Strahan has invited some of the best and most exciting writers working in fantasy today to let their imaginations run wild and to deliver stories that will thrill and awe, delight and amuse. And above all, stories that are filled with fearsome magic! Authors commited to take part include Christopher Priest, Garth Nix, Catherine M. Valente, Ellen Klages, Isobelle Carmody, Nalo Hopkinson, Frances Hardinge, Scott Lynch, Robert Shearman, Justina Robson, Christopher Rowe, Karin Tidbeck and KJ Parker.

Justina Robson is the author of many critically-acclaimed science fiction novels, including SILVER SCREEN, LIVING NEXT DOOR TO THE GOD OF LOVE, NATURAL HISTORY, and the Quantum Gravity science fictions series.

Short Fiction Watch: Lavie Tidhar & Aliette de Bodard


Various-Sept2014-ShortFictionWatch-Blog

Today, we share with you the information about a pair of short stories by two clients of prodigious output.

In the September 2014 issue of Analog, you will find Lavie Tidhar‘s VLADIMIR CHONG CHOOSES TO DIE. The story offers ‘a look at how AI might influence our end-of-life decisions’.

SOLARIS RISING 3, the third in the publisher’s popular Science Fiction anthologies, includes Aliette de Bodard‘s THE FROST OF JADE BUDS. Here’s the publisher’s synopsis for the anthology…

Following the exceptionally well received Solaris Rising 1, 1.5 (e-only) and 2, series editor Ian Whates brings even more best-selling and cutting-edge SF authors together for the latest extraordinary volume of new original ground-breaking stories.

These stories are guaranteed to surprise,thrill and delight, and continue our mission to demonstrate why science-fiction remains the most exciting, varied and inspiring of all fiction genres. In Solaris Rising 1 and 2 we showed both the quality and variety that modern science fiction can produce. In Solaris Rising 3, we’ll be taking SF into the outer reaches of the universe. Aliette de Bodard, Tony Ballantyne and Sean Williams are just three of the exciting names to appear.

SOLARIS RISING 3 is due to be published by Solaris Books in September 2014.

Short Fiction Watch: Aliette de Bodard & Ian McDonald


Various-ReachForInfinity2014-BlogThis week, Solaris Books publish their latest science fiction anthology, REACH FOR INFINITY, and we’re very happy to report that two of our clients’ work is featured therein!

Here’s the publisher synopsis…

What happens when humanity reaches out into the vastness of space?

The brightest names in SF contribute original new fiction to this amazing anthology from master editor Jonathan Strahan. Including new work by Alastair Reynolds, Greg Egan, Ian McDonald, Ken Macleod, Pat Cadigan, Karl Schroeder, Hannu Rajaniemi, Karen Lord, Adam Roberts, Kathleen Ann Goonan, Aliette de Bodard, Peter Watts, and others!

The two new pieces from Zeno clients are:

Watch this space for more details about our clients’ short fiction, over the next few weeks (there’s a lot on the way!).

Anthology Featuring Zeno Authors’s Work…


BestScienceFiction&Fantasy8-BlogEdited by Jonathan Strahan, THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY OF THE YEAR, Vol.8, due to be published by Solaris Books in May 2014.

Here’s the anthology’s synopsis…

From the inner realms of humanity to the far reaches of space, these are the science fiction and fantasy tales that are shaping the genre and the way we think about the future. Multi-award winning editor Jonathan Strahan continues to shine a light on the very best writing, featuring both established authors and exciting new talents.

Within you will find twenty-eight incredible tales, showing the ever growing depth and diversity that science fiction and fantasy continues to enjoy. These are the brightest stars in our firmament, lighting the way to a future filled with astonishing stories about the way we are, and the way we could be.

Three Zeno clients are featured in the anthology: